HR1654: HR1654 Georgia's medical schools; prioritize patient-centered care; urge

Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, with many pregnancy-related deaths considered preventable and linked to gaps in access, communication, and continuity of care. This resolution responds by urging Georgia's medical schools to teach patient-centered care, an approach that puts a patient's needs, preferences, and desired outcomes at the center of medical decisions. The resolution asks medical schools to include shared decision making, informed consent, and transparent communication in their teaching, along with respectful maternity care practices and training on bias and accountability aimed at reducing disparities in treatment. It also encourages licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions to adopt trauma-informed training for all staff who interact with patients. As a resolution, it does not change any Georgia law; it expresses the House's position and directs the Clerk to distribute copies to the public and press.

• Urges all Georgia medical schools to teach patient-centered care, including shared decision making, informed consent, and transparent communication.
• Calls for medical curricula to incorporate respectful maternity care practices and communication training alongside clinical training.
• Encourages evidence-based education on bias and accountability mechanisms to reduce disparities in patient treatment and outcomes.
• Encourages licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions to adopt trauma-informed training for clinical and nonclinical staff.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

Georgia's medical schools, including the new University of Georgia School of Medicine, along with licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions statewide. It also touches patients, particularly pregnant and postpartum patients, and clinical and nonclinical staff who interact with them.

If medical schools and health facilities follow this urging, future physicians and current staff could receive more training in communication, informed consent, and respectful maternity care, which the resolution ties to reducing preventable maternal deaths and disparities in treatment across Georgia.

• The whereas clauses cite Georgia's high maternal mortality rate and define patient-centered care as prioritizing a patient's needs, preferences, and desired outcomes.
• The first resolving clause urges Georgia medical schools to teach shared decision making, informed consent, transparent communication, and respectful maternity care.
• The same clause calls for evidence-based education on bias and accountability mechanisms to reduce treatment disparities and build patient trust.
• The second resolving clause encourages licensed health care facilities and medical education institutions to implement trauma-informed training for all personnel who interact with patients.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

1. 2026-03-16House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-12House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-10House Hopper (House)

• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)Primary sponsor
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)
• Tangie Herring (D, HD-145)

• maternal health
• medical education
• patient-centered care
• health care quality
• medical schools